1. The Orchid Hotel – Old Town & Drum Tower 4* – Hotels Near Beijing Christmas Market

House in a well-preserved old residence, The Orchid Hotel, Beijing is located in the historic Hutong area in the heart of Beijing, a 12-minute walk from Houhai Lake, a popular area filled with various bars and restaurants. It features free WiFi in all areas and free bicycles.

Orchid Hotel is 3 km from The Forbidden City. Lama Temple is a 24-minute walk from this property. Guloudajie subway station is a 10-minute walk from this property.

Using natural elements as brick, cloth and wood, the rooms here will provide you with a flat-screen TV with a custom media system and air conditioning.

There is also an electric kettle and a Chinese tea maker. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also come with a hairdryer and a bathrobe.

2. Nostalgia Hotel Beijing Confucius Temple 3* – Hotels Near Beijing Christmas Market

Located in the Dongcheng district in Beijing, 700 m from Yonghegong Temple, Nostalgia Hotel Beijing Confucius Temple features free WiFi access and free private parking.

All rooms come with a flat-screen TV. You will find a kettle in the room. Every room includes a private bathroom fitted with a shower. For your comfort, you will find slippers, free toiletries and a hair dryer.

You will find shops at the property. Free breakfast is also offered for staying guests.

This little boutique hotel offered me and my family more than we expected. The best surprise was that they offered supper for the guests (soup/porridge + bread). This was perfect when we arrived at the hotel on our first night in beijing and too tired to go out to get food.

The room is probably a bit too little for a couple and 4 years old otherwise it is perfect for couple. It is 5 mins away from the metro station. The standard of cleanliness is higher than some of hotels in Beijing.

The proximity to the Lama Temple, as well as some cool bars (actually within the courtyard of the nearby Nostalgia hotel – Yonghe Lama Temple) made it a nice location for a short staycation in the hutongs. We would definitely go back in the future.

Perfect location in a nice Hutong next to metro station and Lama temple. Very clean rooms. Staff at the reception was very helpful and friendly.

Even though they spoke none to minimal english the communication was possible. We got advices on how to buy admission tickets, send letters etc.

3.  Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen 4* – Hotels Near Beijing Hutongs

Ideally located in the embassy area, Holiday Inn Express is around a 15-minute walk from the popular Sanlitun Bar Street. It provides modern rooms with free internet. Guests have free access to the fitness centre and free use of the massage armchair.

Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen is around a 15-minute walk from Dongzhimen and Dongsishitiao Subway Station (Line 2). It is around 8 km from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Capital International Airport is around a 30-minute car journey away.

Featuring over-sized windows, the air-conditioned rooms offer the comfort of ample work space and a sofa. An iPod dock and a tea/coffee maker are also provided.

Despite being one of the standard type rooms it was spacious and toiletries, bottled water etc. were generous. The view, provided by a large window (wall size) was pleasant, and all other expected amenities were available like a safe, fridge, cable TV.

The bed was comfortable; only issue with sleeping was the street noise – somewhat out of control of the Hotel, however being on the 8th floor you’d expect a decent double glazed/thick window to block out the noise, however traffic was a constant acoustic feature between about 6am-11pm.

Breakfast, available from 6:30-10am, was good. Selection of Chinese and Western style dishes available, enough to suit mostly any dietary requirement.

Amount of seating wasn’t great though, but still managed to find somewhere everyday!

Location-wise, it has reasonable access to the main city attractions, Dongzhimen subway station is about a 15 minute walk (out of hotel and left, then left again) while Dongsi Shitiao subway is about 12 minutes (right and right again), okay if you are relatively able-bodied. There isn’t an abundance of supermarkets within the extreme vicinity, however there are many malls; common in Beijing.

There is a superb Peking Duck restaurant directly opposite however, which is recommended especially if wondering what to eat (although advanced booking is required only for busier hours e.g. evenings).

The English of the staff varies, however on the most part communication is good and the staff are very helpful with directions and recommendations.